Books for Little Beach Bums (3)

I've got an on-going list of my favorite summer and ocean themed picture books. I love sharing new books on vacation with my kids, especially ones that feature sea animals or summertime fun. Here's what we have been loving lately.

Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting - This is a cute story all about what ifs and of course, pirate adventures.  It reminded me a bit of I Love You Stinky Face in that it reassures children of their mother's love at all costs. 

The Last Peach by Gus Gordon - Two adorable bugs find the last peach of the summer.  Will they share it? Will they eat it? What if it's not a peach?  I thought this was a cute picture book that's perfect for peach season and sunny days. 

Too Many Tomatoes* by Eric Ode - This is a cute picture book all about a family's garden and a surplus of tomatoes.  This can happen frequently in a garden and I like that they share their tomatoes with friends and neighbors. I also like that this picture book is multi-generational and features grandparents. 

Steve, Terror of the Seas* by Megan Brewis - I absolutely love this picture book all about Steve, a scary fish in the ocean. But he is small and cute, so why is everyone afraid of him? I like how this book teaches you about different sea creatures all while making it so much fun!

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall - This was one of my favorite picture books of 2018.  It's absolutely stunning! It is all about what it takes to be a lighthouse keeper and it features his family as well.  This book captured my heart and I highly recommend it.

Spot Goes to the Beach by Eric Hill - You can't go wrong with Spot books, especially when there are flaps involved. This one is a perfect vacation-at-the-beach read.  Are you a fan of the Spot series of books?

Ocean Meets Sky by Terry and Eric Fan - This book was also a favorite of mine in 2018. The illustrations are amazing. Finn honors his grandfather by building a ship and going on a magical adventure. 

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall - This is a great picture book for year round, but I especially liked it for the summertime. It';s all about being brave enough to take that big leap. Whether it's the high dive or something new, it's important to be courageous in life and overcome your fears.

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by Tomie dePaola - Strega Nona has a dream about her grandmother's beach house, so she decides to go and take a mini-vacation. What could go wrong? I adored the part of the picture book that featured Strega's memories of the beach with her grandmother. 

Sounds of Nature: World of Oceans by Claire Grace - This is one of my favorite books of the summer. I love how the book breaks down the different habitats and features over 60 ocean/animal sounds! 

On Our To Read List:

 

Plankton is Pushy by Jonathan Fenske

Chu's Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex

Llama Llama Land & Sun by Anna Dewdney

Books Featured  in 2017 and in 2016: 

Have you read any of these picture books? Let me know in the comments some of your favorite picture books that are perfect for sharing with your little ones on vacation or for a lazy summer day. *The books with an asterisk after their title are Usborne Books and More titles and can be purchased through my website interested.